FAILTE IRELAND EXPECTS OVER 2000 PEOPLE TO TAKE PART IN GALWAY GATHERING

Date Published: 31-Dec-2012

Failte Ireland says it expects over 2000 people to take part in gathering events in Galway in 2013.

176 events have been scheduled in the City and County so far as part of the Government's tourism initiative.

Starting with tommorow - New Year's day- to celebrate the gathering Roundstone will create a time capsule to be opened in 2063, in the city a 5k run has been organised as well as the staging of the Renmore pantomine.

Later on in January - there's also achaeological trips planned to historic sites in the Connemara and Islands region.

Meanwhile participating schools across Galway will organise community nights in winter and springtime where stories will be recorded of life in days gone by.

Tonight - The Gathering will officially be launched at the New Year's Eve festival in Dublin.

The Countdown Concert, procession of light and fireworks display will mark the start of a year of events aimed at encouraging tourists to visit Ireland.

Brian Quinn of the Connemara and Mayo branch of Fáilte Ireland says some Galway events will attract a lot of international publicity